Disgraced trooper ordered to stay behind bars

Friday, January 25, 2013 -- Anonymous (not verified)

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Friday, January 25, 2013

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Matt Stout

The jailed state trooper accused of threatening to kill a bookie will remain behind bars as he awaits trial on federal extortion charges, a judge ordered yesterday, revealing the alleged cop-turned-criminal has had a long history of abusing his power.

John M. Analetto, of Belmont, “has used threats of physical or emotional harm in the past, often misusing his official status in the process,” Judge George A O’Toole, Jr. wrote, citing the “several” internal affair investigations prosecutors have included in their case against him.

Analetto — incarcerated since his Jan. 31, 2011 arrest — was again seeking to be released, after a magistrate judge ordered him detained last year.

But O’Toole noted even a forensic psychiatrist called to testify by Analetto’s own lawyers at an earlier hearing had “reservations” about his ability to keep his nose clean. Dr. Robert H. Gray had recommended that Analetto “undergo inpatient psychiatric therapy, possibly in a locked facility” if released, according to O’Toole.

“Moreover, Dr. Gray acknowledged that he had learned facts about the defendant at the hearing that the defendant had not disclosed to him,” O’Toole wrote, pointing to the past probes of Analetto’s conduct with the state police. “That acknowledgment weakened considerably the force of his testimony in the defendant’s favor.”

Analetto faces up to 20 years behind bars if convicted of extortion. Suspended without pay since his arrest, Analetto was recorded telling a bookie he’d loaned $24,000 “I’ll (expletive) kill you” if he didn’t repay the money.

Prosecutors and Analetto’s defense team were in negotiations over a plea agreement before those talks stalled last fall. His lawyer has said Analetto is intent on proving his innocence at trial.